Peter has asked about suitable feeding stimulants to add to his bee feed, but has probably identified the problem with this statement "At this time of year it is the rainy season and there is very little nectar and pollen to be found ..."
Feeding with sugar syrup is probably a good idea, but adding a phagostimulant to the mix isn't going to replace the missing proteins, lipids and micronutrients!
You haven't mentioned any description of the brood condition so I wonder if you have actually lifted the lids and looked? The best clue (assuming there is actually brood rearing under way) is the presence or absence of drone brood, since it is the first to stop when protein nutrition is limited by absence of pollen inflow. But there could be other reasons. We need to know more before really being able to offer any sensible advice. For example, where are you...what is the bees location? How good are the floral resources, and where are they in the seasonal cycle? Are the bees going into a normal population decline for this part of the season in that location, or is your observation an abnormal event? It may well be inappropriate to stimulate brood rearing since there may be no advantage to be gained. More details please.

Peter Detchon
Western Australia, where spring is getting started after a very dry winter, possibly the driest on record.


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